Гроздья гнева

           Onemoreain’tgonnahurt;an’aman,strongan’healthy,ain’tnevernoburden.An’anytimewhenwegottwopigsan’overahundreddollars,an’wewonderin’ifwekinfeedafella—"Shestopped,andPaturnedback,andhisspiritwasrawfromthewhipping.

           Granmasaid,"Apreacherisanicethingtobewithus.Hegiveanicegracethismorning."

           Palookedatthefaceofeachonefordissent,andthenhesaid,"Wanttocall’imover,Tommy?Ifhe’sgoin’,heoughttobehere."

           Tomgotupfromhishamsandwenttowardthehouse,calling,"Casy—oh,Casy!"

           Amuffledvoicerepliedfrombehindthehouse.Tomwalkedtothecornerandsawthepreachersittingbackagainstthewall,lookingattheflashingeveningstarinthelightsky."Callingme?"Casyasked.

           "Yeah.Wethinklongasyou’regoin’withus,yououghttobeoverwithus,helpin’tofiggerthingsout."

           Casygottohisfeet.Heknewthegovernmentoffamilies,andheknewhehadbeentakenintothefamily.Indeedhispositionwaseminent,forUncleJohnmovedsideways,leavingspacebetweenPaandhimselfforthepreacher.Casysquatteddownliketheothers,facingGrampaenthronedontherunningboard.

           Mawenttothehouseagain.Therewasascreechofalanternhoodandtheyellowlightflashedupinthedarkkitchen.Whensheliftedthelidofthebigpot,thesmellofboilingside-meatandbeetgreenscameoutthedoor.Theywaitedforhertocomebackacrossthedarkeningyard,forMawaspowerfulinthegroup.

           Pasaid,"Wegottofiggerwhentostart.